Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala says:
'And if you, [O Muhammad], are in doubt about what We have revealed to you, then ask those who have been reading the Scripture before you. The truth has certainly come to you from your Lord, so never be among the doubters.'
(Quran, Surah Yunus 10:94)
📌 This verse affirms that Allah had previously taught something, so he would understand.
Even though he understood beforehand, and if there was doubt, Allah provided the best solution by asking. This could happen due to two possibilities...
- 1⃣ Given a solution by asking because he indeed couldn't read...
- 2⃣ Could read, but to clarify without doubt, it could be done more comprehensively by asking.
So, point 2⃣ asserts that if he had doubts, then what was revealed to him could be checked if it had been expressed in the previous scripture or not❓And checking for similarities between the revelation he received and what was expressed in the earlier scripture can be done by...
- 👉 ... this checking can be done by reading independently without asking the experts of the book or...
- 👉 ... this checking should ideally be done by asking, which is more accurate, not just understanding by reading alone, but if confused about understanding the reading in the previous scripture, then they (the people of the book) can be asked to explain.
So, point 2⃣ doesn't mean he couldn't read, but rather so that he could be clearer than just reading, but rather understand more by asking, thus not understanding solely by himself but assisted in explanation by the people of the book.
📌 From this point, it's still unclear whether he was illiterate or not.
👉 GIVE GOOD ASSUMPTION 1. But there is one thing clear, that if point 1⃣ (he was illiterate), then HIS MIRACLE WAS LEARNING DIRECTLY FROM HIM...
- 〰 THERE IS NO SUSPICION TOWARD HIM that he plagiarized from the previous book or suspicion of him fabricating, adding / subtracting - modifying as material to create a new book.
👉 GIVE GOOD ASSUMPTION 2. That if point 2⃣ (he was not illiterate), then IT MEANS THAT HIS READING ABILITY WAS NOT USED AT ALL TO CHECK OR STUDY the content of the previous book.
- 〰 Allah teaches us it's better to inquire than to read alone, which is less clear as one could misunderstand without the guidance of those who have understood.
✅ So, if he's considered illiterate, it means his miracle was learning directly from Him.
✅ If considered literate but advised to ask, it's a teaching from Him to choose the more perfect method (asking).
ANOTHER THING TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT...
- 〰 Simply put, there is no "Muhammad asks" but rather "they ask" or the like.
And even if there is "Muhammad asks," it's not asking Him but rather an encouragement to ask someone other than Him.
🔰 Again, this is a reaffirmation from the Quranic verse that asserts the absence of reading ability in him, except for reading in the context of understanding revelation from direct teaching by Him, which means he didn't necessarily have to be illiterate.
❇️ IT MEANS UNDERSTANDING FROM ANY ANGLE, SO HAVE GOOD ASSUMPTIONS
3
🔰 There are several possibilities: he never or couldn't read / write, or he couldn't read / write. Never or couldn't
- 〰 If he never read, it means he could read or couldn't read means he indeed never / didn't want to read.
Believed
The title of al-Amin (the trustworthy) attributed to him certainly does not mean he cannot read but chooses not to, but rather if he can read, he would surely choose to read, except if indeed he 1⃣ cannot read 2⃣ or chooses to inquire for clearer understanding rather than mere questioning.
🔰 WHEN SOMEONE SAYS HE IS ILLITERATE, THEN SAY, THAT IS THE REASON FOR HIS MIRACLE, MEANING HE LEARNS DIRECTLY FROM IT. A NOBLE GIFT FROM GOD, or
🔰 IF HE IS NOT ILLITERATE, IT MEANS ALLAH HAS CHOSEN INQUIRY THAT CLARIFIES BETTER, A PRINCIPLE OF GREAT WISDOM
❇️ Whoever it may be, then assume goodwill, so that the wisdom (guidance) previously unknown is revealed, further SIMPLIFYING THE EFFORT OF OBEDIENCE & ADDING WISDOM, TWO ASPECTS OF OUR CLOSENESS TO HIM.
